Means for feeding granular material to a mill and the like



- Feb. 21, 1950 E. A. WAGNER.

MEANS FOR FEEDING GRANULAR MATERIAL T0 MILLS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 06*,- 14, 1944 a w n r 30 tW t n ut a s .s S? m% E Feb. 21, 1950 E. A. WAGNER MEANS FOR FEEDING GRANULAR MATERIAL TO MILLS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001.. 14, 1944 \nventor Ernest A. Wagner;

Hi5 Attorney.

Feb. 21, 1950 E. A. WAGNER MEANS FOR FEEDING GRANULAR MATERIAL T0 MILLS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 14, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \nventor: Ernest A. Wagner,

His Attorney.

by W

Fig.

masks the hopper discharge opening.

Patented Feb. 21, 1950 MEANS FOR FEEDING GRAN ULAR MATERIAL TO A MILL AND THE LIKE Ernest A. Wagner, Stratford, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 14, 1944, Serial No. 558,622

This invention relates to means for feeding granular material, such as grain kernels, to a mill and the like, and it has for its object the provision of improved means of this character.

More particularly, this invention contemplates the provision of improved means for feeding the granular material at a predetermined rate.

The feeding mechanism, in accordance with this invention, includes a hopper from which the granular material is supplied. interposed between the hopper and the grinding section of the mill is a rotatable feed control member. This member has a surface which masks the hopper discharge opening during a portion of a revolution of the control member, but also has an opening in the surface which registers with the hopper opening during another portion of the revolution to permit the grain to discharge from the hopper. The feed control member is constructed and arranged so as to feed the grain which has been fed to it into the grinding section of the mill during that portion of its rotation that it In this way, during each revolution of the feed control member a predetermined quantity of material is fed into the feed chamber and from there is discharged into the grinding section.

The feed control member is connected to the main mill driving motor so that it is rotated at a predetermined speed. And interposed between this motor and the control member is a spring friction clutch. In the event there is a jam of the granular material in the openings, the clutch permits the control member to stop and as the motor continues to operate the clutch is conditioned to back up the control member-and thereby increase the effective area between the openings to cause the jamto clear itself.

Where relatively large kernels, such as corn,

fare to be ground the control member and the hopper have peculiarly shaped openings+ the openings being so shaped that in the' eventa kernel tends to be caughtb'etween the edges of the openings they will forcethe kernel inwardly toward a central area where the openings'are always in registered relation. -In-this case, repeated jamming of relatively large kernels is prevented. A

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional viewtaken through a' grain grinding mill embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the grain mill of Fig. 1,-pa'rts being broken away so as to illustrate certain details of 6 Claims. (Cl. 222370) construction; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the line 33 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the mill shown in Figs.

'1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating certain elements in differ-"- ent operative positions; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through a grain feed control mechanism arranged in accordance with this invention and illustrating it in its relation to a certain other part of the mill; Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof the feed control member of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is-a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a different form of feed control member; and Figs. 9,10 and 11 are views similar to Fig. 8 but illustrating the feed control member of Fig. 8 in different operative positions; and Fig. 12 is a perspective View illustrating the feed control member of Figs.

8-11 inclusive. 2o 1 Referring to the drawings, thls invention has been shown in one form as applied to a grinding mill for grinding grain such as wheat, corn and the like. I

This mill comprises a U-shaped standard' I, which has a U-shaped base 2 at the bottom that rests upon feet 3. Mounted upon the upper arm 4 0i the standard I is a mill housing 5. The housing 5 has formed therein a drum-shaped grinding chamber 6, and mounted to operate within this chamber is a grinding member-"l. The grinding drum 6 and the grinding member I constitute a mill of the hammer type.

As shown, the section 1 comprises a plurality Of hammers 8 mounted in pairs (Fig. 1)' and swinging from a central rotatable section 9 formed of a plurality of circular disks I0 mounted on a shaft I I and held in spaced relation by suitable washers I2. The disks and washers l2 are secured to'the shaft l l by means of a single nut l3. Each pair of hammers 8 is mounted for swinging movement on the disks by means of a pin 14.

The mill housing 5 further has an inlet passageway [5 which at the top has an' inlet open ing [6 and at the bottom has an outlet I1 opening into the drum 6 through its inner end wall, as clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 2. At the bottom of the drum chamber 6 there is an elongated discharge opening l8 for the ground material. Spaced over this opening I8 is an arcuate-shaped screen H9. The front of the drum is substantially completely closed by a cover member 20 which is secured by means of a supporting bar 2| to which the cover is attached and which bar has its ends secured to the mill housing 5 by means of-thumb-screws 22. -At the center of the-cover cl-ramge of feedfrom the hopper;

3 there are provided a series of relatively small openings 23.

The ground flour discharged through the opening I8 enters a chute 24 which discharges it into a collecting bowl 25. The bowl 25 is covered by a cloth cover 26 which prevents the scattering of the flour andwhich is secured-to a'flange :2! on the lower end of the chute 24 and it is draped about the upper edges of the bowl 25.

The shaft H is driven by a motor 28, the" shaft 29 of which is connected with the shaft ||--preferably integrally therewith. .This motor' drives the hammer shaft II at a relatively high speed, such as 17,000 R. P. M; I

The motor 28 also drives suitable grain feed mechanism 30 arranged in accordance with this invention. The feed mechanism-30, comprises a feed chamber 3| which receives grain in measured quantities from a supply hopper 32. Th-cham ber 3|, as shown, is formed integrally with the Mounted within the; chamber outwardly flared flange 34, which flange functionszaspa seat for the hopper. 32. The hopper 3l=lis detachably secured to'the flange 34 by pin and slot connections-comprisingheaded pins 35 attached to the hopper and" pin slot openings 36.:wformed in the flange 34'. One of the pin and 'slot-connectionsis different from the remainder so that the hopper can be placed upon the proper supportflange 34 in onl-yone relativexangular position. This connection, as shown at'the lower left:'- of"Figs.- 4 and 8,-comprises in addition to the 11311135; a straight-unheaded pin 31 spaced from iits associated pin 35 and which-permits only: the entry of this-pin35 into the left keyway hand this is by'virtue of an extension 38 formed in this keyway. The reason for this connection will zbew pointed out in greater detail hereinafter.

Theuhopper 32 is provided in-.its bottom wall withsa discharge opening 39 for discharging grain into the feed chamber 3|, and the bottom wall of lthe cup-shaped hopper support 33 is :provided With an opening- 40 -.-which registers withgthe trier-hopper 32-and these in turn are. fed: through the opening 4th The feed is underthe-control ofzavfeed control member 4| shown mostrclearly imFig. '7." As -there showmthis member is in the-:form of a cylindrical cup having-an open bottom and a :closing top wall 42.. This member isimounted withinthe feed chamber 3| with the top surface of wall 42 uppermost Furthermore, the:-cup-;member-4-| is provided witha diametral dividing wall dividing the volume of the- -cup into two cavities -or chambers 43aand 4319,, and in) addition, it is provided with an opening 44 inrits topwall42" communicating with chamber 431:

The feedmember-4| rotates within the feed chamber 3| counterclockwise as viewedinFigs. 4 ;and15, and-during the major portion of a revolutionthe top surface 42 masks thedischarge opening-33 01? the hopper so asto prevent dis- However, evjentually:the opening- 44 in'the top surface 42 williregister with-the discharge opening 39 as shown 'in Fig. 4,:andper-mit grain to'flow from the-hopper. andfill the cavity 43b.- This quantity otgrain will then beswept alongbythe dividing ,feed control member;-

wall 43 as the control member 4| rotates, and eventually when the control member reaches its position of Fig. 5 and positions beyond, it will be discharged through the opening 40, the inlet opening l6 and thence through the supply channel IE to the grinding drum 6. Thus, during each revolution of thencontrol'"member,:grain is fedeinto one-half thereotand thisouantity is delivered into the grinding section of the mill.

It will be understood that the volume of the chamber which includes the opening 44 may have anyxproportionof the total volume of the cup member. Thus, for example, it may have but one-fourth of the volume of this member instead "of one-half and'thus, the rate of feed can be controlled by supplying control members 4| having grain receiving cavities of varying proportions.

The cup-shaped member 4| is rotated at a greatly reduced speed by means of the motor 28, andx-for-thisi purpose therewiswmounted in the mill housing 5 an upright driveshaft 45 which has its axis coincident-with the axis of; rotation of the control member. The upper ,end of this shaft isprovided with -a flattened section 45a, as shown more clearly in Fig; 6,: so as to provide a pair of opposed flat. driving surfaces. And the transverse wall143 is=formed of spacedapar-t-flat members46a-and 461). Each of these membershas one end anchored to the side. wall of the. control member 4| by means of rivets. while the other end iswinterconnected with the other of the members 1 adj acent; its fixed end by means of apin 48. The-two arms 46-and- 41 are formed of a -spring material so that they resilientlyengage the two surfaces of the flattened end 45aof'the'shaft; Thisflattened end and the twomembers 46a and 46b form-a spring-friction drive between the shaft and the The, shaft 45 atits lower end is provided-with acworm wheel 48a which meshes with a worm 49' formed on a transverse shaft 5|] which shaft is driven through the motor shaft29 by means of a'worm wheel 5| mounted .on the-shaft and which :mesheswith worm 52 formed on motor shaft 29-.

It will be understood that; as the motor 28 rotates: the hammers 28,-it will at the same time rotatethe feed control 'cup"4|,.but"at a greatly ,-reduced speed..-

the shaft-45to rotate between them; Then when the shaft; 45 has-advanced. through approximately.= the'springs ibendl'inwardlyagain and flip the-cup member; backwards; thatris they back up? this member, andthereby increase theeifec- -tive-- area between-the, two= openings and thus permitthe'jam" to clear itself; Then the motor drives-the cup forwardly and-lthe operation continues as before.

Wherelarg sized -kernels,-.suchas corn; are being .fedto' the feed chamber-3| from hopper 32,21 such jams are likely; to occur with'rather greatfrequency, and to-obviate this I have provided a special; feed control cup 53-which is shown most clearly in Fig; 12; but also in Figs; 8 to 11.

cept for the shape of the grain admission opening 54 in its top wall. This opening 54 in general has a circular shape, but it is provided adjacent the axis of rotation of the cup member with a protuberance 55 which has an inverse curved section 56. It is for cooperation with this opening 54 specifically that the discharge opening 39 of the hopper is given its peculiar shape; as shown, this opening 39 is roughly in the shape of a cardiod whose reentrant section is somewhat off-center. The lobes of the cardiod, as shown, are arranged generally along a diameter of the control cup, one on one side of the axis of rotation of the cup and the other in the center of the cup to embrace or include the axis of rotation; and the lobes are shaped so that when the opening 54 is in full registry with the opening 39, as shown in Fig. 8, the opening 54 lies substantially on one side of the axis of rotation and is in full registry with the lobe on that side; the protuberance 55 of opening 54, however, extends forwardly adjacent the axis of rotation so as to be in registry with the other lobe in the center of the control chamber. That is, the two lobes of opening 39 and the opening 54 are so shaped with relation to each other that the protuberance 55 always uncovers or registers with at least a portion of the area of the opening 39- see Figs. 8-11 inclusive. Furthermore, the curved section 58 of the opening 39, and the curves ofthe opening 54 are such that if a kernel of corn, for example, tends to be bound between the two edges this kernel will be advanced forwardly and radially inwardly as the cup member advances counterclockwise because the point of intersection between the edges will advance radially toward the center, and eventually it will be caused to drop in the central registered sections between the protuberance 55 and the inner lobe of the opening 39. Fig. 8 illustrates the openings 39 and 54 in their position of maximum registration and where the corn flows freely from the hopper 32 into the chamber 59 of the feed control member. In Fig. 9, the feed control member has advanced 90 in its counterclockwise direction; it will be observed here that the curved edge 60 of the opening 54 will have advanced along the curved edge 58 of the outer lobe in such a way'that it will have squeezed any kernel which tends to stick between opening edges radially inwardly, and eventually will cause it to drop off the reentrant point 51 and through the registered area between the openings at the center. In Fig. 10, the feed control member has advanced through another 90 of motion and is in its substantially cut-off position although there still remains the registered shaded area between the two openings; and here also it will be seen that the control member is pushing the grain into discharge opening 40. Fig. 11 illustrates still another 90 movement of the control member, and here the registered area between the two openings is enlarging. Another 90 movement returns the control member to its fully open position shown in Fig. 8.

The reason for the specific interlock structure between the hopper 32 and its supporting flange 34, comprising the special pin and slot arrangement shown at the left of Figs. 4 and 8, will now be understood, because the opening 39 must be positioned with reference to the discharge opening 40 so as to prevent grain from passing directly through these openings to the grinding section of the mill.

It will be observed that in addition to the means for preventing small and large sized grain kernels from causing a jam in the feed mechanism, the

mill is set up for very rapid cleaning of all of the parts that contact the flour and the grain. To clean, it is merely necessary'to rotate the hopper 22 to unlock its pin and slot connection and then lift it off. The feed control member,whichever it may be, may readily be removed by slipping it from its fiat section 45a of its drive shaft, while the hammers 8 and their disks It] can be removed merely by unscrewing the single nut I 3. Of course. this latter can be accomplished only after the thumb screws 22 have been turned so as to release the cover 20.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not Wish to be limited theretosince many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and. scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Feeding mechanism for granular material comprising a feed chamber having a discharge opening, a supply hopper having a discharge opening dischargin into said feed chamber at a point offset laterally from said first-named opening, a feed control member rotatable in said feed chamber having a cavity for receiving a predetermined quantity of granules from said hopper, said feed control member having a surface which masks said hopper discharge opening for a portion of a revolution of said control member and further, having an opening in said surface which registers with said hopper discharge opening in order to load the cavity as the control member rotates, and the cavity having a discharge opening at the bottom which upon rotation of the control member moves into registry with said first-named opening so as to discharge the granules therein, and means for rotating said feed control member including a drive shaft, means for driving said shaft, and a friction clutch formed by a pairof flat surfaces, one on said shaft and the other comprising a resilient member secured to said feed control member. and said latter surface biased to engage said one surfac on said shaft depending uponthe angular relation of said shaft and feed control member so as to efiect a driving connection between said shaft and feed control member.

2. Feeding mechanism for granular material comprising a feed chamber having a discharge opening, a granule supply hopper having a discharge opening discharging into said feed chamber at a point offset laterally from said firstnamed opening, a feed control member rotatable in said feed chamber having a cavity for receiving a predetermined quantity of granules from said hopper, said control member having a surface which masks said hopper discharge opening for a portion of a revolution of said control member, and further, having an openin in said surface which registers with said hopper discharge opening in order to load the cavity asthe control member rotates, and the cavity having a discharge opening at the bottom which upon rotation of the control member moves into registry with said first-named opening so as to discharg the granules therein, and means for rotating said feed control member including a drive shaft extending into said feed chamber in the axis of rotation of said feed control member and having a flat section thereon located in said,

comprising. a feed chamber having a discharge opening, a supply hopper above said feedachamher having a discharge opening leading'to said chamber, a feed control member rotatably mounted in said feed chamber havinga surface .masking said hopper discharge openingand further having in said surface an opening which ismoved into registry with said hopper discharge opening by the rotation of saidcontrol member -topermit granular material to flowintosaidfeed chamber, said control member being further;

constructed and arranged to. carry said material around to saidfeed chamber discharge opening, a motor having a driving shaft, and a clutch fined by a. flatsection: on said shaft and a pair of elongated members connected. to said control member and bearing against the .oppOsite :sides of. said flat section so that when said shaft rotates said .elongatedmembers. together with said control member are rotated with it, andv at least one of the elongated members beingre- ;silient so as to yield in'the event granularymaterial jams: between the edges of said; openings and tends'to-stop saidcontrol member.

4. Feeding mechanism formeasuring and feeding granular material at a predetermined rate comprising a feed chamber having a. discharge opening, a supply hopper having a discharge opening discharging into said feed-chamber, a

feed'control member. rotatably mounted. invsaid feed, chamber having a surface masking said hopper discharge opening to prevent the-flow of said material into said feed chamberbut having an opening in said surface which when said:. control. member rotates, moves into. registry with said hopper discharge opening to permit-material .to flow into said feed chamberv as long-as said openings are in registry, said control member further being constructed and arranged to force said material to. said feed chamber discharge opening as the. member rotates, a motor-for. driving said control. member-having a drive shaft :havingthereorra plurality of flat surfaces, and said control"; member-having. a plurality 330i flat members for engaging said flat surfacesto effect a driving-connection between said shaft. and control member, at' least one of said flatmembers being-resilient so that in the event-granular material jams between the; edges-of? said hopper openingand that in said control member, said control member stops: while said shaft: continues to rotate and when said shaft 'rotatesvindapendently of said control memberxthrough a) predetermined angle said resilientximember engages J 1- another of said flat surfaceswon; saidshaft. to

shift the control member backward- .to thereby tend to release said jam. I

5. Feeding mechanism for measuring: and feeding granular material at a predetermined rate comprising a feed chamber having a discharge opening, a supply hopper having. a. discharge opening discharging into said feed chamber, 'a

"feed control member rotatably mounted: in said feed chamber having a surface which invone efiecting a driving connection between said shaft and said control member, said clutch being dez position' of said control member substantially -maskssaid hopper discharge opening substantially to; prevent the .flow of said materialinto said feed chamber but having an opening-in said surface which when said control member rotates from. said position moves into full registrywith said hopper discharge opening to permit material to flow into said feed chamber and thence as the member continues to rotate moves substantially out of registry therewith substantially to shut off the flow-of material, said control member further being constructed and arranged" to force said material to said: feed chamberndischarge opening as the member rotates-,the edges of-lsaid discharge opening of said. supply hopper and of said opening. in said surface of said feed control member having lengths thereof which intersect as the feed control member rotates to move said openings out of registry and the point of intersection between them advancing in toward 'the center of said control member as said member sorotates'so as to force a granule that tends to jam between them in toward said center, and said openings always registering throughout a limited areathereof at said center, whereby a granule forced by: said edgesin toward 'said center is allowed to drop throughsaid limited area. 1

GQFeeding mechanism for measuring and feedin granular material at a predetermined rate comprising a circular feed chamber having a discharge opening at thebottorm. a supply hopper having a discharge opening discharging into the top of said feed chamber, a circular feedlcontrol member rotatably mounted in said feed chamber 'on a predetermined axis of rotation provided with a top wall having an opening vtherein'for registering with said hopper discharge opening to permit material to flow freely from said hopper into said feed chamber thereby to feed a predetermined quantity of material into said feed chamber as said control member rotatesand said top wall substantially closing. said hopper discharge openin to. shut ofi the feed as said control member continues to'rotate, said control member further being. constructedand arranged to force said material'fed to itto'saidieed chamber discharge opening as-the controlhmember rotates, said opening in said hopper having roughly the shape of a cardioidi extendinggenerally along a diameter of said. control member, one. lobe of said cardioidbeing on onelgsidet'of said axis of rotation and the other lobe-being over thecenter of said control chamberztoi. include said axis, and said opening insaid control chamber top wall being generally' in the form of a circle, the circular portion thereof "being located at one side of awdiameter of-sai'd control member and having an areasubstantially coextensive with that of said one lobe when said openings are in full registry, and also haying curved edges forming an area-protruding from said circular portion at a point adjacent said axis so as always to be in registry with at least a part of said other lobe, and curved edges of said circular portion intersecting the curved edge of said one lobe as'said control member rotates from its position wherein said openings are in full registry to move to their'position of minimum registry and shaped so that the point of intersection between said curved edges advances in toward said protruding area as said openings move to said position of minimum registry whereby they coact to forcesthe granules that tend to 'jam between them into- ERNEST A. WAGNER. 5

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Heath Aug. 2, 1892 Lindhard Mar. 11, 1902 Kramer Aug. 28, 1906 Miller Oct. 10, 1916 Nielsen June 12, 1928 Mayer Mar. 3, 1931 Whitfield June 23, 1936 

